Thinking Particles as light sources

[teleliq]

Hi!

You have 2 Options:


Option1: The classic way

Open your Xpresso setup and create 2 Nodes. First a pPass node with your particle group (for example ALL if you have only 1 group). Now create a pShape node and conect the pPass to the pShape. Click on the pShape node and drag your light into the pShape node. Now all your particles are linked to a particle shpae (in your case, the light). The final thing you have to do is to create a particle geometry object (simulate->Thinking Particles->Particle geometry). Now you should see your lights in your viewport.



Option 2: The Mograph way

Create a cloner and make your light a child of the cloner. Set the cloner mode to object. Now drag your particle group (for example ALL if you only have 1 group) in the object link field. You find your particle groups here: simulate->Thinking Particles->Thinking Particle Settings. What now happens is, that you clone your light onto your particle group. That's it. If you want several lights, just make them all a child of your cloner.


Cheers
Simon

[ChrisCousins]

Gah, Simon beat me to it :rolleyes: - but I made a file so you might as well see it.

[Srek]

One more word on option 1, create an additonal Null and switch it to not beeing visible in renderer. Make the shape you want to use (in your case the light) a child of this Null.
This prevents the original shape to influence your rendering.

[caimatthews]

Thanks for speedy responses guys! :)

In the end I went for the pshape & light as child of a null combination & it's working nicely. Just need to sort my light/render setting to look nice now!

Cheers!!